COLD WEATHER SETTINGS????

I'm a little stunned and maybe missing a major point here, but this is the coldest weather I've ever run my stove in. Night time temps at zero degrees like a lot of others now.

I thought for sure the colder it got, the more the stove and chimney would draft, and therefore it would need less on the draft knob. Not working out that way

For two days straight I've had the draft knob open between 1 and 1.5 turns and the stove only hits about 600. It's not bad, but a few days earlier before this cold snap, it was taking off to over 700 degrees at lower settings.

Maybe it's anyone's guess but I'm still in awe. Could it possibly be that my OUTSIDE 20 ft masonry/clay lined chimney isn't heating up like it does in the 20's and therefore not drafting as well???

I even considered that since the house is now colder to start with, that the stove has to output more to get the same stove temps.

After a 12 hour burn, the pipe was up to 200 degrees. That tells me that everything is working fine and it's breathing well. Been burning a bit more coal than usual.

Just wanting to know if this is a common occurrance in colder than usual temps and WHY????????

Thanks A Ton!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Joe

The normal response from the chimney as it gets colder out, is for it to pull harder.. I've seen this first hand with mine. Since my baro is now unable to keep my negative draft pressure under a .05" WC with the colder weather, I've started to use my MPD along with the Baro to keep my negative draft pressure under or about a .04" WC..

I would have to say that there are other circumstances that are making it appear your chimney is drawing less as it gets colder outside. For example, your house could be loosing air up higher in it somewhere (thru stack effect), like a second story window that isn't tight or thru an attic way. This creates a lower pressure downstairs which will cannibalize some of your chimney draft. This is one of several ways that your chimney's draft could be compromised.. OR maybe your shaking routine has altered slightly leaving more ash in the coal bed, slowing combustion air into the coal bed OR maybe the load you are currently burning has more fines in it.. Any altered variable in the stove, the coal, or how you are operating it at that particular time, will effect how it seems to burn.

The only way to truly see what is happening with the chimney draft is to have a manometer hooked up permanently. Then you will be able to see how the chimney is drawing under different weather circumstances outside.. Anything else is guess work..

Chiefcamper wrote:I'm a little stunned and maybe missing a major point here, but this is the coldest weather I've ever run my stove in. Night time temps at zero degrees like a lot of others now.

I thought for sure the colder it got, the more the stove and chimney would draft, and therefore it would need less on the draft knob. Not working out that way

For two days straight I've had the draft knob open between 1 and 1.5 turns and the stove only hits about 600. It's not bad, but a few days earlier before this cold snap, it was taking off to over 700 degrees at lower settings.

Maybe it's anyone's guess but I'm still in awe. Could it possibly be that my OUTSIDE 20 ft masonry/clay lined chimney isn't heating up like it does in the 20's and therefore not drafting as well???

I even considered that since the house is now colder to start with, that the stove has to output more to get the same stove temps.

After a 12 hour burn, the pipe was up to 200 degrees. That tells me that everything is working fine and it's breathing well. Been burning a bit more coal than usual.

Just wanting to know if this is a common occurrance in colder than usual temps and WHY????????

Thanks A Ton!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Joe

Joe,

I had to open the MPD just a hair off closed and in fact I could open it some more. My area is getting highs in the teens or singles and sub-zero lows... I have not adjusted
the air-inlet, still at 3/4 opening. FOLKs, Joe and I are operating Godins BTW.

Matt

Hi Guys,

I have a Keystoker hand-fired unit that heats my 700 sq ft. downstairs beautifully. However, I was wondering why my stove temp is sneaking up to 600 deg. lately after it has been running a while. From what I am reading in this post, it looks like the zero degree temp might be the culprit.

I have a manual damper that I keep horizontal so the draft is never wide open unless I am refueling. The horizontal pipe going into the chimney is very warm, but not so hot that I can't put my hand on it. Seems like all the heat stays in the room, which is great.

Have been running a coal stove for about six years now and absolutely love the heat that it gives and the luxury of only having to feed it twice a day! I use only Blaschak "stove" size coal and find that it is quite efficient.

By the way, isn't 700 deg. kind of high to be running in a stove? I get nervous when mine goes up to 600! Although I did read in another post that the higher temperature gives a more efficient burn.

Keeping warm in Wilmot---

Didima

Yup.

As lightning stated, colder temps such as these will bring a stronger draft up the chimney, all other things equal, and it would be significant considering these temps So if your stove normally runs w/ the manual damper fully shut, you may find that turning down your stove is needed when it gets this cold.

As far as stove temps: post up a thread or do a search for people with similar stoves as yours to see what would be safe. Last year was my first and I was petrified to let it get past 600. Didn't seem practical this year and after talking to some people with more experience, I feel very comfortable running mine at 650 to 700. That's where it seems happy. At 750 I start to turn it down a bit. Also 750 is past the point where the house is comfortable. Depends a lot on your stove.

I 've found that these temps have given me more stable burns. I thought it would give me more stove heat, but it's not nearly what I thought it would be over the last few days. Although YES, the draft is considerably more, as the pipe is running about 200 degrees as opposed to the usual 100. So the stove IS burning faster, but in my case it doesn't get much hotter if the heat is being sucked up the chimney w/ the stronger draft. Also burning more coal. The hotter pipe warms the room well, although turning the stove up a bit and using the manual damper has accomplished similar results.

These cold temps have been a new learning experience for me.

Today I bought a black Tee and a baro. Can't wait to install it.

Joe